Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device

ABSTRACT

In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device provided with memory cell transistors arranged in a direction and a select transistor to select the memory cell transistors, each of the memory cell transistors of a charge trap type are at least composed of a first insulating layer and a first gate electrode respectively, and the select transistor is at least composed of a second insulating layer and a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode is provided with a first silicide layer of a first width formed on the first insulating layer. The second gate electrode is provided with an impurity-doped silicon layer formed on the second insulating layer and with a second silicide layer of a second width formed on the impurity-doped silicon layer. The second silicide has the same composition as the first silicide. The second width is larger than the first width.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-294786, filed on Nov. 18,2008; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

A memory cell of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device has atransistor structure in which a gate insulating layer and a control gateelectrode are deposited on a semiconductor substrate. Writing/erasing isperformed for the memory cell by applying a voltage between the controlgate electrode and the substrate to cause a tunneling current to flow,and by controlling a threshold voltage in accordance with charge amountin a charge storage layer. Examples of the structure of the memory cellinclude a metal-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (MONOS) structure and astack gate structure.

The MONOS structure and the like are also referred to as a charge traptype. The charge trap type is formed by sequentially depositing, forexample, a tunneling insulating layer (silicon oxide layer) as a gateinsulating layer to selectively pass charges through, a charge storageinsulating layer (silicon nitride layer), and a blocking insulatinglayer (silicon oxide layer) to block a current between the chargestorage insulating layer and the control gate electrode. The charge traptype changes a threshold by trapping charges into trap sites locallyexisting in the silicon nitride layer.

The stack gate structure is also referred to as a floating gate type.The floating gate type is formed by sequentially depositing a tunnelinginsulating layer (silicon oxide layer), a floating gate electrode(polysilicon layer), an intergate insulating layer (ONO layer), and acontrol gate electrode, for example. Writing/erasing is performed byapplying a high voltage between the control gate electrode and thesemiconductor substrate to cause an FN (Fowler-Nordheim) tunnelingcurrent to flow, and by transferring charges between the tunnelinginsulating layer and the floating gate electrode. In other words, datais stored by controlling a threshold voltage in accordance with thecharge amount within the floating gate electrode.

A memory cell of each of these types is selected by a select transistoradjacent to the memory cell. The select transistor does not need tocontinue storing charges. In the select transistor, for example, a gateinsulating layer (silicon oxide layer) and a control gate electrode(polysilicon layer) are sequentially deposited.

It is important that a threshold voltage of the memory cell transistorand that of the select transistor should be within tolerance.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-159614 discloses afloating gate type structure as follows. A memory cell transistorincludes a floating gate electrode, an intergate insulating layer formedon the floating gate electrode, and a control gate electrode formed onthe intergate insulating layer. A select transistor includes a lowerside gate electrode, an intergate insulating layer formed on the lowerside gate electrode and having an opening, a blocking layer formed atleast in the opening and having a function to block diffusion of metalatoms, and an upper side gate electrode formed on a second intergateinsulating layer and electrically connected to the lower side gateelectrode through the blocking layer. The control gate electrode of thememory cell transistor and the upper side gate electrode of the selecttransistor are fully silicided.

The disclosed floating gate type has a configuration in which the lowergate electrode of the select transistor has polysilicon leftunsilicided, and the control gate electrode of the memory celltransistor is fully silicided. The gate electrodes of the memory celltransistor and the select transistor can have work functions differentfrom each other. The floating gate type makes use of the configurationin which these gate electrodes share the intergate insulating layer andin which the select transistor has the opening in the intergateinsulating layer.

However, the charge trap type has no structure in which the intergateinsulating layer is formed. Accordingly, it is difficult to directlyapply the disclosed technique of the stack gate structure to the chargetrap type. Additionally, the disclosed technique has no option but tocontrol a threshold voltage by leaving polysilicon unsilicided in thelower side gate electrode of the select transistor, and thus hasdifficulty in employing another configuration.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention is to provide a nonvolatile semiconductormemory device that may comprise a semiconductor substrate, a pluralityof memory cell transistors, each of the memory cell transistors having afirst insulating layer and a first gate electrode, the first insulatinglayer including a charge storage insulating layer formed on thesemiconductor substrate, the first gate electrode being formed on thefirst insulating layer, and a select transistor having a secondinsulating layer and a second gate electrode, the second insulatinglayer being formed on the semiconductor substrate, the second gateelectrode being formed on the second insulating layer, wherein the firstgate electrode is provided with a first silicide layer of a first width,the second gate electrode is provided with a impurity-doped siliconlayer and a second silicide layer of a second width formed on theimpurity-doped silicon layer, and the second width is larger than thefirst width.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device that may comprise a semiconductor substrate,a plurality of memory cell transistors, each of the memory celltransistors having a first insulating layer and a first gate electrode,the first insulating layer including a charge storage insulating layerformed on the semiconductor substrate, the first gate electrode beingformed on the first insulating layer, and a select transistor having asecond insulating layer and a second gate electrode, the secondinsulating layer being formed on the semiconductor substrate, the secondgate electrode being formed on the second insulating layer, wherein thefirst gate electrode is provided with a first material selected fromimpurity-doped silicon materials and metallic conductive materials, andthe second gate electrode is provided with a second material selectedfrom the impurity-doped silicon materials and the metallic conductivematerials, the second material being different from the first material.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device that may comprise a semiconductor substrate,a plurality of column-shaped semiconductor portions being formed on thesemiconductor substrate nearly perpendicular to the semiconductorsubstrate, a plurality of memory cell transistors, each of the memorycell transistors having a first insulating layer and a first gateelectrode, the first insulating layer being formed on a surface of eachof the column-shaped semiconductor portions and including a chargestorage insulating layer, the first gate electrode being formed on asurface of the first insulating layer, and a select transistor having asecond insulating layer and a second gate electrode, the secondinsulating layer being formed on a surface of each of the column-shapedsemiconductor portion and adjacent to the first insulating layer, thesecond gate electrode being formed on a surface of the second insulatinglayer, wherein the first gate electrode is provided with a firstmaterial selected from impurity-doped silicon materials and metallicconductive materials, and the second gate electrode is provided with asecond material selected from the impurity-doped silicon materials andthe metallic conductive materials, the second material being differentfrom the first material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a plan view showing a structure of a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along the A-A line of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a sectional view taken along the B-B line of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A to FIG. 9A are sectional views showing a process of a method formanufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according tothe first embodiment, corresponding to an area of a long dasheddouble-dotted line in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2B to FIG. 9B are sectional views showing the process of the methodfor manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device accordingto the first embodiment, corresponding to an area of a long dasheddouble-dotted line in FIG. 1C.

FIGS. 10A, 10B are sectional views showing a structure of a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11A to FIG. 13A and FIG. 11B to FIG. 13B are sectional viewsshowing a process of a method for manufacturing the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to the second embodiment.

FIGS. 14A, 14B are sectional views showing a structure of a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to a third embodiment.

FIGS. 15A, 16A and FIGS. 15B, 16B are sectional views showing a processof a method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice according to the third embodiment.

FIGS. 17A, 17B are sectional views showing a structure of a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18A to FIG. 20A and FIG. 18B to FIG. 20B are sectional viewsshowing a process of a method for manufacturing the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIGS. 21A, 21B are sectional views showing a structure of a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 22A, 22B are sectional views showing a process of a method formanufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according tothe fifth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a structure of a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view showing a half of a surface of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the sixthembodiment taken along a long dashed dotted line shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view showing a structure of a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to a modification of the sixthembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described withreference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or similarreference numerals will be given to the same or similar portions. FIG.2A to FIG. 22A correspond to an area enclosed with a long dasheddouble-dotted line in FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2B to FIG. 22B correspond to anarea enclosed with a long dashed double-dotted line in FIG. 1C.Description will be given by defining an upward direction as a directionaway from a semiconductor substrate in a surface of the semiconductorsubstrate.

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to a firstembodiment of the invention and a method for manufacturing the same willbe described with reference to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C through FIGS. 9A, 9B.

As shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C, an NAND type nonvolatile semiconductormemory device 1 has multiple diffused regions 21 each of which serves asa source and a drain and which are arranged in a surface of asemiconductor substrate 10 so as to be apart from each other. A memorycell transistor 5 includes a gate insulating layer 18 as a firstinsulating layer having a charge storage insulating layer 14 and formedon the surface of the semiconductor substrate 10 between each pair ofthe adjacent diffused regions 21. The memory cell transistor 5 furtherincludes a gate electrode 19 as a first gate electrode in which asilicide layer 17 a having a width L1 as a first width is formed incontact with the gate insulating layer 18. A select transistor 6includes a gate insulating layer 28 as a second insulating layer formedon the surface of the semiconductor substrate 10 located away from thememory cell transistors 5 with one diffused region 21 therebetween. Theselect transistor 6 further includes a gate electrode 29 as a secondgate electrode formed in contact with the gate insulating layer 28. Inthe gate electrode 29, a polysilicon layer 16 a and the silicide layer17 a having a width L2 as a second width larger than the width L1 aresequentially formed in the gate electrode 29. The polysilicon layer 16 ais made of an impurity-doped silicon.

As shown in FIG. 1A, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 1,multiple element regions 11 (shown with a mesh pattern) are provided inparallel with each other in stripes extending in a longitudinaldirection of FIG. 1A. Within the element region 11, the diffused regions21 each serving as a source and a drain are provided apart from eachother, as shown in FIG. 1B. An isolation region 31 composed of a siliconoxide layer, for example, is provided between each pair of adjacentelement regions 11.

The gate electrodes 19 of the memory cell transistors 5 are provided inparallel with each other in stripes extending in a short-side directionof FIG. 1B, and intersecting perpendicularly to the element regions 11.Memory cells correspond respectively to the memory cell transistors 5,and are arranged in a memory cell region 7 in a lattice form.

A pair of the gate electrodes 29 of the select transistors 6 areprovided respectively on both sides of the memory cell region 7 in sucha way as to extend parallel to the gate electrodes 19 and to sandwichthe memory cell region 7. In other words, an NAND string is formed witha structure in which sources and drains of the memory cell transistors5, i.e., adjacent two of the diffusion regions 21 are connected incommon to each of the memory cell transistors 5, and in which the selecttransistors 6 are provided on both sides of the memory cell transistors5. Two gate electrodes 29 are provided in one select gate region 8.While two gate electrodes 29 in one select gate region 8 are shown here,one gate electrode 29 in one select gate region 8 may be used as long asit has a selection function.

As shown in FIGS. 1B, 1C, the semiconductor substrate 10 is a p typesilicon substrate, for example, and n type impurities such as As areimplanted into the diffused region 21. As for the diffused region 21,extension regions each extended toward a facing diffused region 21 sideare often provided. A part between the adjacent diffused regions 21functions as a channel region (not shown). The semiconductor substrate10 can have a substrate structure provided with a p type well, and canbe a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having p type silicon on aninsulating layer. Use of the SOI substrate can reduce erroneous write.Moreover, the semiconductor substrate 10 and the diffused regions 21 canrespectively be formed so as to have conductivity types opposite tothose mentioned above.

An interlayer insulating layer 33 composed of a silicon insulatinglayer, for example, is buried into spaces among the gate insulatinglayers 18, 28 and the gate electrodes 19, 29. Although illustration willbe omitted, side wall portions and an upper portion of the gateinsulating layers 18, 28 and the gate electrodes 19, 29 are covered withan insulating layer composed of at least one of a silicon oxide layer, asilicon nitride layer, and a silicon oxynitride layer.

In the memory cell region 7, the gate insulating layer 18 is provided inan upper portion of the channel region between the adjacent diffusedregions 21, the gate insulating layer 18 being composed of a siliconoxide layer 13 a corresponding to a tunneling insulating layer 13, asilicon nitride layer 14 a corresponding to the charge storageinsulating layer 14, and a silicon oxide layer 15 a corresponding to ablocking insulating layer 15. The tunneling insulating layer 13 can becomposed of either of a silicon oxide layer, a silicon oxynitride layer,and a layer obtained by stacking a silicon oxide layer and a siliconnitride layer. An aluminum oxide layer, for example, having a higherdielectric constant can be used for the blocking insulating layer 15.

The gate electrode 19 of the memory cell transistor 5 has a silicidelayer 17 a of the width L1 formed in contact with the blockinginsulating layer 15, which is the top layer of the corresponding gateinsulating layer 18. The silicide layer 17 a is mainly composed of Ni,for example. The width L1 of the gate electrode 19 is formed so as to bethe minimal size in a manufacturing process, for example. Other thanthis, the silicide layer 17 a can be mainly composed of at least oneelement of Co, Pt, Yb, W, etc.

On the other hand, in the select gate region 8, the gate insulatinglayer 28 composed of the silicon oxide layer 13 b and the silicon oxidelayer 15 a is provided in an upper portion of the channel region betweenthe adjacent diffused regions 21.

The gate electrode 29 of the select transistor 6 has a polysilicon layer16 a of the width L2 formed in contact with the silicon oxide layer 15a, and has a silicide layer 17 a of the width L2 formed in contact withthe polysilicon layer 16 a on a side opposite to the silicon oxide layer15 a. In other words, a boundary between the polysilicon layer 16 a andthe silicide layer 17 a is located within the gate electrode 29 in aheight direction from the surface of the semiconductor substrate 10. Achannel length under the gate electrode 29 is set larger than a channellength under the gate electrode 19 in order to demonstratecontrollability of the transistor. Namely, the width L2 is formed largerthan the width L1, and for example, twice or more as large as the widthL1.

Impurities such as P are introduced into the polysilicon layer 16 a andformed so as to have a low resistance. The impurities of the polysiliconlayer 16 a can be selected from other impurities of an n type or p typewhere relevant.

A method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 1will be described. In description of a manufacturing process, theabove-mentioned configuration will be supplemented with materials orconfiguration to form the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, the silicon oxide layer 13 a is formed on thesurface of the semiconductor substrate 10 by a thermal oxidation method,and the silicon nitride layer 14 a is then formed on the silicon oxidelayer 13 a by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Subsequently,amorphous silicon patterned by a photolithography method, for example,is formed on the silicon nitride layer 14 a and reactive ion etching(RIE) is then performed using the amorphous silicon as a mask, althoughillustration will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, the silicon oxide layer 13 a and the siliconnitride layer 14 a remain in the memory cell region 7 (on the right sideof FIG. 3A), whereas the silicon oxide layer 13 a and the siliconnitride layer 14 a are etched in the select gate region 8 (on the leftside of FIG. 3A).

As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, the silicon oxide layer 13 b is formed on thesurface of the semiconductor substrate 10 by the thermal oxidationmethod. Subsequently, amorphous silicon patterned by thephotolithography method, for example, is formed on the silicon oxidelayer 13 b and the silicon nitride layer 14 a, and etching by the RIEmethod is performed using the amorphous silicon as a mask, althoughillustration will be omitted. Trenches 41 are formed in areas to beformed as the isolation regions 31 (on the right and left end sides ofFIG. 4B). Next, for example, a silicon oxide layer is buried into thetrenches 41 by the CVD method, and planarization or etching is thenperformed.

As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, the isolation regions 31 are formed in thetrenches 41, so that upper surfaces of the silicon oxide layer 13 b, thesilicon nitride layer 14 a, and the isolation regions 31 are exposed.

As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, the silicon oxide layer 15 a is formed on thesurfaces of the silicon oxide layer 13 b, the silicon nitride layer 14a, and the isolation regions 31 by the CVD method. Subsequently, theP-doped polysilicon layer 16 a is formed on the surface of the siliconoxide layer 15 a. Subsequently, a silicon nitride layer patterned by thephotolithography method is formed on the polysilicon layer 16 a, andetching by the RIE method is then performed using the silicon nitridelayer as a mask, although illustration will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, the silicon oxide layer 13 a, the siliconnitride layer 14 a, the silicon oxide layer 15 a, and the polysiliconlayer 16 a each having approximately the width L1 are formed in an areawhich will be the gate insulating layer 18 and the gate electrode 19.The silicon oxide layer 13 b, the silicon oxide layer 15 a, and thepolysilicon layer 16 a each having approximately the width L2 are formedin an area which will be the gate insulating layer 28 and the gateelectrode 29. Subsequently, although illustration will be omitted, aninsulating layer composed of at least one of a silicon oxide layer, asilicon nitride layer, and a silicon oxynitride layer is formed on sidewall portions and an upper portion of each of the deposited layers thusformed, and ion implantation is then performed on the surface of thesemiconductor substrate 10 to form the diffused regions 21.Alternatively, before formation of the insulating layer on the sidewalls, ion implantation can be performed to form the extension regions.

As shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, the interlayer insulating layer 33 composed ofa tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)-based silicon oxide layer is buried betweenareas which will be the gate insulating layers 18, 28 and the gateelectrodes 19, 29. Next, planarization is performed by a CMP method sothat an upper surface of the polysilicon layer 16 a may be exposed. Ametal layer 35 a for silicidation made of Ni, for example, is depositedon the planarized interlayer insulating layer 33 and polysilicon layer16 a by the CVD method.

As shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, heat treatment is performed to react thepolysilicon layer 16 a with the metal layer 35 a, so that the silicidelayer 17 a fully silicided is formed on the gate insulating layer 18.Simultaneously, the polysilicon layer 16 a having a silicide layer 17 aby siliciding only its upper portion is formed on the gate insulatinglayer 28. In other words, the gate electrode 19 on the gate insulatinglayer 18 is composed of the silicide layer 17 a of the width L1, whereasthe gate electrode 29 on the gate insulating layer 28 is composed of thepolysilicon layer 16 a and the silicide layer 17 a of the width L2.

The silicidation, in which the polysilicon layer 16 a reacts to themetal layer 35 a by heat treatment, progresses faster for the narrowerpolysilicon layer 16 a of the width L1 than for the wider polysiliconlayer 16 a of the width L2. The width L1 and the width L2 are determinedso that the polysilicon layer 16 a of the width L1 may be fullysilicided while a part of the polysilicon layer 16 a of the width L2 maynot be silicided and thus remain stably on the gate insulating layer 28.A difference in a silicidation rate varies depending on a heatingtemperature, properties of the metal layer 35 a such as a species and athickness, and properties of the polysilicon layer 16 a such as athickness, an impurity density, and crystallinity. In the embodiment,the width L2 is approximately 3 times larger than the width L1. Otherthan Ni, the above-mentioned elements such as Co, Pt, Yb, W can be usedfor the metal layer 35 a.

As mentioned above, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 1,the gate electrode 19 of each memory cell transistor 5 of the memorycell region 7 has the width L1, and the gate electrode 29 of each selecttransistor 6 of the select gate region 8 has the width L2 larger thanthe width L1. The gate electrode 19 is entirely composed of the silicidelayer 17 a in contact with the gate insulating layer 18. The gateelectrode 29 is composed of the polysilicon layer 16 a in contact withthe gate insulating layer 28 and the silicide layer 17 a on thepolysilicon layer 16 a.

As a result, in the charge trap type nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice 1, it is possible to configure the memory cell transistor 5 andthe select transistor 6 so that the gate electrodes 19, 29 may havedifferent work functions. Since the gate electrodes 19, 29 havingdifferent work functions are obtained, the nonvolatile semiconductormemory device 1 can have a threshold voltage of the memory celltransistor 5 and that of the select transistor 6 set at a more suitablevalue.

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to a secondembodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS.10A, 10B through FIGS. 13A, 13B. What is different from the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 1 according to the first embodiment is theconfiguration in which a gate electrode of each memory cell transistorincludes a metal nitride layer arranged on the gate insulating layer.The same reference numerals will be given to the same portions as thosein the first embodiment, and description of those portions will beomitted.

As shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment is different from the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 1 according to the first embodiment in aconfiguration of a gate electrode 61 of each memory cell transistor 71in the memory cell region 7 and a configuration of a gate electrode 62of each select transistor 72 in the select gate region 8. Specifically,the gate electrode 61 has a metal nitride layer 51 a made of TaN, forexample, and formed in contact with the gate insulating layer 18, andhas a polysilicon layer 53 a formed on the metal nitride layer 51 a. Onthe other hand, the gate electrode 62 has a polysilicon layer 53 aformed in contact with the gate insulating layer 28. A width of the gateelectrode 62 is set larger than a width of the gate electrode 61 inorder to demonstrate controllability of the transistor. Otherconfigurations are the same as those of the nonvolatile semiconductormemory device 1 according to the first embodiment, and the polysiliconlayer 53 a is the same as the polysilicon layer 16 a of the firstembodiment. Other than TaN, TiN, WN, TaSiN, etc. can be used for themetal nitride layer 51 a.

A method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment will be described. The process until thestep shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B is performed in the same manner as in themethod for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 1according to the first embodiment. Next, as shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, thesilicon oxide layer 15 a is formed on the surfaces of the silicon oxidelayer 13 b, the silicon nitride layer 14 a, and the isolation regions 31by the CVD method. Subsequently, the metal nitride layer 51 a is formedon the surface of the silicon oxide layer 15 a by the CVD method.Thereafter, a silicon nitride layer patterned by the photolithographymethod is formed on the metal nitride layer 51 a, and etching by the RIEmethod is then performed using the silicon nitride layer as a mask,although illustration will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, the metal nitride layer 51 a remains in thememory cell region 7 (on the right side of FIG. 12A), whereas the metalnitride layer 51 a is etched in the select gate region 8 (on the leftside of FIG. 12A).

As shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, the P-doped polysilicon layer 53 a is formedon the surfaces of the silicon oxide layer 15 a and the metal nitridelayer 51 a. Subsequently, a silicon nitride layer patterned by thephotolithography method is formed on the polysilicon layer 53 a, andetching by the RIE method is then performed using the silicon nitridelayer as a mask, although illustration will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, the interlayer insulating layer 33 is formedin the same manner as in the step shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and a part ofthe step shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B according to the first embodiment. Thegate electrode 61 having the above-mentioned configuration is formed inthe memory cell region 7, and the gate electrode 62 having theabove-mentioned configuration is formed in the select gate region 8.

As mentioned above, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment, the gate electrode 61 of the memory celltransistor 71 is composed of the metal nitride layer 51 a in contactwith the gate insulating layer 18 and the polysilicon layer 53 a on themetal nitride layer 51 a. The gate electrode 62 of the select transistor72 is composed of the polysilicon layer 53 a in contact with the gateinsulating layer 28.

As a result, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according tothe embodiment, it is possible to configure the memory cell transistor71 and the select transistor 72 so that the gate electrodes 61, 62 mayhave different work functions. The nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice according to the embodiment has the same effect as that of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device 1 according to the firstembodiment. Additionally, the width of the gate electrode of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment hasfewer restrictions than those on the width of the gate electrode of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device 1 according to the firstembodiment.

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to a thirdembodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS.14A, 14B through FIGS. 16A, 16B. What is different from the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 1 according to the first embodiment is theconfiguration in which a gate electrode of each select transistorincludes a metal nitride layer arranged on the gate insulating layer.The same reference numerals will be given to the same portions as thosein the first and second embodiments, and description of those portionswill be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment is different from the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 1 according to the first embodiment in aconfiguration of a gate electrode 63 of each memory cell transistor 73in the memory cell region 7 and a configuration of a gate electrode 64of each select transistor 74 in the select gate region 8. Specifically,the gate electrode 63 has a polysilicon layer 53 a formed in contactwith the gate insulating layer 18. On the other hand, the gate electrode64 has a metal nitride layer 51 a made of TaN, for example, and formedin contact with the gate insulating layer 28, and has a polysiliconlayer 53 a formed on the metal nitride layer 51 a. A width of the gateelectrode 64 is set larger than a width of the gate electrode 63 inorder to demonstrate controllability of the transistor. Otherconfigurations are the same as those of the nonvolatile semiconductormemory device 1 according to the first embodiment.

A method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment will be described. The process until thestep shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is performed in the same manner as inthe method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device1 according to the second embodiment. Thereafter, a silicon nitridelayer patterned by the photolithography method is formed on the metalnitride layer 51 a, and etching by the RIE method is then performedusing the silicon nitride layer as a mask, although illustration will beomitted.

As shown in FIGS. 15A, 15B, the metal nitride layer 51 a is etched inthe memory cell region 7 (on the right side of FIG. 15A), whereas themetal nitride layer 51 a remains in the select gate region 8 (on theleft side of FIG. 15A).

As shown in FIGS. 16A, 16B, the P-doped polysilicon layer 53 a is formedon the surfaces of the silicon oxide layer 15 a and the metal nitridelayer 51 a. Subsequently, a silicon nitride layer patterned by thephotolithography method is formed on the polysilicon layer 53 a, andetching by the RIE method is then performed using the silicon nitridelayer as a mask, although illustration will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B, the gate electrode 63 having theabove-mentioned configuration is formed in above-mentioned memory cellregion 7, and the gate electrode 64 having the above-mentionedconfiguration is formed in the select gate region 8 in the same manneras in the step shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B in the second embodiment.

As mentioned above, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment, the gate electrode 63 of the memory celltransistor 73 is composed of the polysilicon layer 53 a in contact withthe gate insulating layer 18. The gate electrode 64 of the selecttransistor 74 is composed of the metal nitride layer 51 a in contactwith the gate insulating layer 28 and the polysilicon layer 53 a on themetal nitride layer 51 a.

As a result, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according tothe embodiment, it is possible to configure the memory cell transistor73 and the select transistor 74 so that the gate electrodes 63, 64 mayhave different work functions. The nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice according to the embodiment has the same effect as that of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device 1 according to the firstembodiment. Moreover, the gate electrodes 63, 64 in the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to the embodiment have the workfunctions opposite to those of the gate electrodes 61, 62 in thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the secondembodiment. However, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment has the same effect as that of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the secondembodiment.

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to a fourthembodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS.17A, 17B through FIGS. 20A, 20B. What is different from the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 1 according to the first embodiment is theconfiguration in which a gate electrode of each memory cell transistorincludes a metal nitride layer formed on the gate insulating layer, anda gate electrode of each select transistor includes a metal layer formedon the gate insulating layer. The same reference numerals will be givento the same portions as those in the first to third embodiments, anddescription of those portions will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 17A, 17B, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment is different from the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to the second embodiment in aconfiguration of a gate electrode 65 of each select transistor 75 in theselect gate region 8. Specifically, the gate electrode 65 has a metallayer 52 a made of Ru, for example, and formed in contact with the gateinsulating layer 28, and has the polysilicon layer 53 a formed on themetal layer 52 a. A width of the gate electrode 65 is set larger than awidth of the gate electrode 61 in order to demonstrate controllabilityof the transistor. Other configurations are the same as those of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the secondembodiment. Other than Ru, Au, Pt, Co, Be, Ni, Rh, Pd, Te, Re, Mo, Al,Hf, Ta, Mn, Zn, Zr, In, Bi, W, Ir, Er, La, Ti, Y, Yb, etc. can be usedfor the metal layer 52 a.

A method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment will be described. The process until thestep shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B is performed in the same manner as in themethod for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the second embodiment. Next, as shown in FIGS. 18A, 18B,the metal layer 52 a is formed on the surfaces of the silicon oxidelayer 15 a and the metal nitride layer 51 a by the CVD method.Subsequently, a silicon nitride layer patterned by the photolithographymethod is formed on the metal layer 52 a, and etching by the RIE methodis then performed using the silicon nitride layer as a mask, althoughillustration will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 19A, 19B, the metal layer 52 a is etched in the memorycell region 7 (on the right side of FIG. 19A), whereas the metal layer52 a remains in the select gate region 8 (on the left side of FIG. 19A).

As shown in FIGS. 20A, 20B, the P-doped polysilicon layer 53 a is formedon the surfaces of the metal nitride layer 51 a and the metal layer 52a. Subsequently, a silicon nitride layer patterned by thephotolithography method is formed on the polysilicon layer 53 a, andetching by the RIE method is then performed using the silicon nitridelayer as a mask, although illustration will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 17A, 17B, the gate electrode 61 having theabove-mentioned configuration is formed in the memory cell region 7 andthe gate electrode 65 having the above-mentioned configuration is formedin the select gate region 8 in the same manner as in the step shown inFIGS. 10A, 10B in the second embodiment.

As mentioned above, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment, the gate electrode 61 of the memory celltransistor 71 is composed of the metal nitride layer 51 a in contactwith the gate insulating layer 18 and the polysilicon layer 53 a on themetal nitride layer 51 a. The gate electrode 65 of the select gateregion 8 is composed of the metal layer 52 a in contact with the gateinsulating layer 28 and the polysilicon layer 53 a on the metal layer 52a.

As a result, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according tothe embodiment, it is possible to configure the memory cell transistor71 and the select transistor 75 so that the gate electrodes 61, 65 mayhave different work functions. The nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice according to the embodiment has the same effect as those of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the first to thirdembodiments. Furthermore, it is possible to select more suitable workfunctions as the work functions of the gate electrodes 61, 65 of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment,since combination of the materials for the metal nitride layer 51 a andfor the metal layer 52 a can be selected where relevant.

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to a fifthembodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS.21A, 21B and FIGS. 22A, 22B. What is different from the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to the fourth embodiment is theconfiguration in which a gate electrode of each memory cell transistorincludes a metal nitride layer and a metal layer arranged on the gateinsulating layer. The same reference numerals will be given to the sameportions as those in the first to forth embodiments, and description ofthose portions will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 21A, 21B, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment is different from the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to the forth embodiment in aconfiguration of a gate electrode 66 of each memory cell transistor 76in the memory cell region 7. Specifically, the gate electrode 66 has themetal nitride layer 51 a formed in contact with the gate insulatinglayer 18, the metal layer 52 a formed on the metal nitride layer 51 a,and the polysilicon layer 53 a formed on the metal layer 52 a. A widthof the gate electrode 65 is set larger than a width of the gateelectrode 66 in order to demonstrate controllability of the transistor.Other configurations are the same as those of the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to the fourth embodiment.

A method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment will be described. The process until thestep shown in FIGS. 18A, 18B is performed in the same manner as in themethod for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the fourth embodiment. Next, as shown in FIGS. 22A, 22B,the P-doped polysilicon layer 53 a is formed on the surface of the metallayer 52 a. Thereafter, a silicon nitride layer patterned by thephotolithography method is formed on the metal nitride layer 53 a, andetching by the RIE method is then performed using the silicon nitridelayer as a mask, although illustration will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 21A, 21B, the gate electrode 66 having theabove-mentioned configuration is formed in the memory cell region 7 andthe gate electrode 65 having the above-mentioned configuration is formedin the select gate region 8 in the same manner as in the step shown inFIGS. 17A, 17B in the fourth embodiment.

As mentioned above, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment, the gate electrode 66 of the memory celltransistor 76 is composed of the metal nitride layer 51 a, the metallayer 52 a, and the polysilicon layer 53 a in this order, the metalnitride layer 51 a being in contact with the gate insulating layer 18.The gate electrode 65 of a select transistor 75 is composed of the metallayer 52 a in contact with the gate insulating layer 28 and thepolysilicon layer 53 a on the metal layer 52 a.

As a result, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according tothe embodiment, it is possible to configure the memory cell transistor76 and the select transistor 75 so that the gate electrodes 65, 66 mayhave different work functions. The nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice according to the embodiment has the same effect as that of thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the fourthembodiment. Moreover, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the embodiment can shorten the manufacturing processcompared with the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according tothe fourth embodiment since the step of etching the metal layer 52 a isnot needed in the embodiment.

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to a sixthembodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS.23, 24. What is different from the nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice according to the second embodiment is that each memory celltransistor is perpendicularly connected to the semiconductor substrate.The same reference numerals will be given to the same portions as thosein the first to fifth embodiments, and description of those portionswill be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 23, 24, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 2 isprovided with column-shaped semiconductor portions 91 approximatelyperpendicular to the semiconductor substrate 10. The nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 2 is provided with memory cell transistors85 including the gate insulating layer 18 and gate electrodes 81. Thegate insulating layer 18 having the charge storage insulating layer 14(see FIG. 1B) is provided on a surface of the column-shapedsemiconductor portion 91. The gate electrodes 81 are electrodes in whichthe metal nitride layers 51 a apart from each other are formed oncircumferential surfaces of the gate insulating layer 18. A selecttransistor 86 is provided above each memory cell transistor 85 locatedon a side of the column-shaped semiconductor portion 91 opposite to thesemiconductor substrate 10. The select transistor 86 includes the gateinsulating layer 28 formed on a circumferential surface of thecolumn-shaped semiconductor portion 91, and a gate electrode 83 havingthe impurity-doped polysilicon layer 53 a formed on a circumferentialsurface of the gate insulating layer 28. A conductive layer 93 toelectrically connect two adjacent column-shaped semiconductor portions91 is provided in a surface of the semiconductor substrate 10.

In the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 2, an upper end of onecolumn-shaped semiconductor portion 91 is connected to a bit line 97while an upper end of another adjacent column-shaped semiconductorportion 91 is connected to a source line 95. Lower ends of thecolumn-shaped semiconductor portions 91 are connected to each otherthrough a conductive layer 93 made of an n type semiconductor, forexample. Four memory cell transistors 85, for example, are disposed oneach of the two column-shaped semiconductor portions 91. Each gateelectrode 81 is controlled independently. In other words, the memorycell transistors 85 and the select transistors 86 configure a U-shapedNAND string. A width of each gate electrode 83 in a direction along thecolumn-shaped semiconductor portion 91 is set larger than a width ofeach gate electrode 81 in order to demonstrate controllability of thetransistor. In other words, the gate electrode 83 has a thickness largerthan that of the gate electrode 81 in a direction perpendicular to thesemiconductor substrate 10.

The gate electrode 81 is a single layer of the metal nitride layer 51 amade of TaN, for example. The gate electrode 83 is a single layer of thep-doped polysilicon layer 53 a, for example. The gate electrode 81 onlyneeds to include the metal nitride layer 51 a on the column-shapedsemiconductor portion 91 side. Accordingly, similarly to the secondembodiment, the gate electrode 81 may have a configuration in which thepolysilicon layer 53 a is formed on the circumference of the metalnitride layer 51 a.

As mentioned above, similarly to the nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice according to the second embodiment, in the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 2, the gate electrode 81 of the memory celltransistor 85 is composed of the metal nitride layer 51 a in contactwith the gate insulating layer 18. The gate electrode 83 of the selecttransistor 86 is composed of the polysilicon layer 53 a in contact withthe gate insulating layer 28.

As a result, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 2, it ispossible to configure the memory cell transistor 85 and the selecttransistor 86 so that the gate electrodes 81, 83 may have different workfunctions. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to theembodiment has the same effect as that of the nonvolatile semiconductormemory device according to the second embodiment. Additionally, thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device 2 includes the memory celltransistors 85 stacked vertically to the surface of the semiconductorsubstrate 10. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the number of thememory cell transistors 85 per area. Moreover, in the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 2, even when the number of stacked layers ofthe memory cell transistors 85 is increased, increase in the number ofmanufacturing steps is less. Accordingly, unit cost (bit cost) reductionof the memory cell transistor 85 is possible.

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to a modification ofthe sixth embodiment of the invention will be described with referenceto FIG. 25. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a cross section correspondingto that of FIG. 24. What is different from the nonvolatile semiconductormemory device 2 according to the sixth embodiment is that the NANDstring is composed of one column-shaped semiconductor portion. The samereference numerals will be given to the same portions as those in thefirst to sixth embodiments, and description of those portions will beomitted.

As shown in FIG. 25, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory deviceaccording to the modification is different from the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 2 in that the select transistors 86 aredisposed at both end sides of the memory cell transistors 85 on onecolumn-shaped semiconductor portion 91. The semiconductor substrate 10side of the column-shaped semiconductor portion 91 is connected to asource line 96 through one select transistor 86, while the side of thecolumn-shaped semiconductor portion 91 opposite to the semiconductorsubstrate 10 is connected to a bit line 97 through the other selecttransistor 86, for example. The gate electrode 81 composed of the metalnitride layer 51 a is shared between adjacent NAND strings.

As mentioned above, similarly to the nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice 2 according to the sixth embodiment, in the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to the modification, the gateelectrode 81 of the memory cell transistor 85 is composed of the metalnitride layer 51 a in contact with the gate insulating layer 18. Thegate electrode 83 of the select transistor 86 is composed of thepolysilicon layer 53 a in contact with the gate insulating layer 28.

As a result, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according tothe modification has the same effect as that of the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device 2. In addition, compared with thenonvolatile semiconductor memory device 2, in the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device according to the modification, the number ofthe memory cell transistors 85 to the number of stacked layers per NANDstring is reduced approximately by a half. However, it is possible toincrease the number of the column-shaped semiconductor portions 91 persurface area of the semiconductor substrate 10.

Needless to say, in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory devicesaccording to the sixth embodiment and the modification, it is possibleto form the gate electrodes 81, 83 by combining the gate electrodematerials for the gate insulating layer 18, 28 described in the first tofifth embodiments where relevant. In other words, the materials for thegate electrodes 81, 83 can be selected from the silicide layer 17 a, themetal nitride layer 51 a, the metal layer 52 a, and the polysiliconlayer 53 a.

The invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, andvarious modifications can be made without departing from the gist of theinvention.

An example where the gate insulating layer is a silicon oxide layer, asilicon nitride layer, or a silicon oxynitride layer has been shown inthe embodiments. However, the gate insulating layer can be a layerincluding the so-called high-k layer having a higher dielectricconstant, such as an aluminum oxide layer, an oxide layer containing Hfor the like, a silicon oxide layer containing Hf or the like, anoxynitride layer containing Hf or the like, and a silicon oxynitridelayer containing Hf or the like, for example.

Moreover, an example of the NAND type nonvolatile semiconductor memorydevice has been shown in the embodiments. However, the nonvolatilesemiconductor memory device can be also applied to a memory celltransistor and a select transistor that configure a different logic suchas an AND type.

As an example of the gate electrode in contact with the gate insulatinglayer in the memory cell transistor and the select transistor, some ofcombinations of two selected among the polysilicon layer, the silicidelayer, the metal nitride layer, and the metal layer have been shown inthe embodiments. However, combinations other than the combinations shownin the embodiments can be used.

Moreover, in the embodiments, an example of metal conductive materialssuch as metal single bodies, silicides, and nitrides has been shown asmaterials for the gate electrode. However, besides those, metal singlebodies or intermetallic compounds including one or more elements shownin the embodiments, or silicides, borides, nitrides, or carbides ofthese intermetallic compounds can be also used.

1. A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device provided with memory celltransistors arranged in a direction and a select transistor to selectthe memory cell transistors comprising: a semiconductor substrate; aplurality of memory cell transistors, each of the memory celltransistors having a first insulating layer and a first gate electrode,the first insulating layer including a charge storage insulating layerformed on the semiconductor substrate, the first gate electrode beingformed on the first insulating layer; and a select transistor having asecond insulating layer and a second gate electrode, the secondinsulating layer being formed on the semiconductor substrate, the secondgate electrode being formed on the second insulating layer, wherein thefirst gate electrode is provided with a first silicide layer of a firstwidth, the second gate electrode is provided with a impurity-dopedsilicon layer and a second silicide layer of a second width formed onthe impurity-doped silicon layer, and the second width is larger thanthe first width.
 2. The device of claim 1: wherein the second silicidehas the same composition as the first silicide.
 3. The device of claim1: wherein the first gate electrode is fully silisided and the secondgate electrode is partially silisided.
 4. A nonvolatile semiconductormemory device provided with memory cell transistors arranged in adirection and a select transistor to select the memory cell transistorscomprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of memory celltransistors, each of the memory cell transistors having a firstinsulating layer and a first gate electrode, the first insulating layerincluding a charge storage insulating layer formed on the semiconductorsubstrate, the first gate electrode being formed on the first insulatinglayer; and a select transistor having a second insulating layer and asecond gate electrode, the second insulating layer being formed on thesemiconductor substrate, the second gate electrode being formed on thesecond insulating layer, wherein the first gate electrode is providedwith a first material selected from impurity-doped silicon materials andmetallic conductive materials, and the second gate electrode is providedwith a second material selected from the impurity-doped siliconmaterials and the metallic conductive materials, the second materialbeing different from the first material.
 5. The device of claim 4:wherein a width of the first gate electrode is narrower than a width ofthe second gate electrode.
 6. The device of claim 4: wherein the firstgate electrode is a metal nitride layer and the second gate electrode isan impurity-doped silicon layer.
 7. The device of claim 4: wherein thefirst gate electrode is an impurity-doped silicon layer and the secondgate electrode is a metal nitride layer.
 8. The device of claim 4:wherein the first gate electrode is a metal nitride layer and the secondgate electrode is a metal layer.
 9. The device of claim 8: wherein thefirst gate electrode has the same metal layer as the second gateelectrode on the metal nitride layer.
 10. The device of claim 4: whereinthe first gate electrode is a metal layer and the second gate electrodeis a metal nitride layer.
 11. The device of claim 4: wherein the firstinsulating layer has a stacked structure, a tunneling insulating layerbeing on the semiconductor substrate, the charge storage insulatinglayer being on the tunneling insulating layer, and a block insulatinglayer being on the charge storage insulating layer.
 12. The device ofclaim 4: wherein the semiconductor substrate has a SOI structure.
 13. Anonvolatile semiconductor memory device provided with memory celltransistors arranged in a direction and a select transistor to selectthe memory cell transistors comprising: a semiconductor substrate; aplurality of column-shaped semiconductor portions being formed on thesemiconductor substrate nearly perpendicular to the semiconductorsubstrate; a plurality of memory cell transistors, each of the memorycell transistors having a first insulating layer and a first gateelectrode, the first insulating layer being formed on a surface of eachof the column-shaped semiconductor portions and including a chargestorage insulating layer, the first gate electrode being formed on asurface of the first insulating layer; and a select transistor having asecond insulating layer and a second gate electrode, the secondinsulating layer being formed on a surface of each of the column-shapedsemiconductor portion and adjacent to the first insulating layer, thesecond gate electrode being formed on a surface of the second insulatinglayer, wherein the first gate electrode is provided with a firstmaterial selected from impurity-doped silicon materials and metallicconductive materials, and the second gate electrode is provided with asecond material selected from the impurity-doped silicon materials andthe metallic conductive materials, the second material being differentfrom the first material.
 14. The device of claim 13: wherein a width ofthe first gate electrode perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate isnarrower than a width of the second gate electrode in the samedirection.
 15. The device of claim 13: wherein the select transistor isadjacent to each end of the arranged memory cell transistors on each ofthe column-shaped semiconductor portions.
 16. The device of claim 13,further comprising: a conductive layer being provided on the oppositeside of the column-shaped semiconductor portion from the selecttransistor, the conductive layer electrically connecting two of thecolumn-shaped semiconductors.
 17. The device of claim 16: wherein theconductive layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate.
 18. Thedevice of claim 13: wherein the first gate electrode is a metal nitridelayer and the second gate electrode is an impurity-doped silicon layer.19. The device of claim 13: wherein the first gate electrode is animpurity-doped silicon layer and the second gate electrode is a metalnitride layer.
 20. The device of claim 13: wherein the first gateelectrode is a metal nitride layer and the second gate electrode is ametal layer.